Stencil printing machine



s: L. MERSHON 2,082,115

STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE June' 1, 1937.

Filed July 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Stephen pM er'J/lorv.

wlr/vess g. TTUH/VE) June 1, 1937. s. L. MERSHON 2, 1

' STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE I Filed July 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOF? ,SZfep/zen Z. Mar-55071 J9'TTOR/VE) l i5 plate on which was Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATEN'E' FFIQE STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Stephen L. Mershon, Springfield, Pa. Application July 12, 1935, Serial No. 30,973

9 Claims.

My: invention relates to stencil printing machines andmore particularly to those machines wherein a stencil and a plate on which is supported the sheet to be printed are delivered to and passed'between a pair of platen rollers, one of which is an inking roller in contact with the stencil and after passing between said rollers and imprinting the matter of the stencil on the card, or sheet between the stencil and the plate,

:- the'said stencil plate and printed sheet are automatically returned to substantially the point or position in which they were at the beginning of the' operation.

Heretofore,v in this type of machine, the said placed the card or sheet to be printed slid in one track or guideway, and the stencil was similarly slidable in a separate runway or guideway immediately above the guide- Way first mentioned, independently of the plate.

Thestencil and sheet to be printed were not in substantial contact until they were drawn between the platen rollers. As a result of this the card or sheet to be printed was often not in properregistry with the stencil. In moving the plateandthe stencil into proper position to be engaged'by the rollers, the card or sheet was likely to be displaced on the plate and out of proper registry with the stencil.-

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these. difiiculties by attaching the stencil to. the plate in such a manner that whenever the stencil is positioned on the plate it is always in the same position so far as registration with respect to the plate is concerned. The stencil may 1 be hingedly or otherwise flexibly secured or movablysecured to the plate, but whenever it is applied to the plate with a sheet or card to be printed between it and the plate, the stencil is always in exactly the same position with respect to the plate.

5U? pense with the separate and. inan invariable A further object of this invention is to secure the plate and stencil together in such a manner than the stencil may be raised to permit of the insertion and proper placement and removal of the sheet and to -make of the plate, the stencil and the sheet to be printed a unit construction to be manually moved up into position to beengaged by the platen rollers.

A further object of this invention is to disguideway for the stencil by supporting the stencil directly on the plate position with respect to the plate.

Aiurther object of this invention is to provide a stencil and the reciprocatory plate, upon which the sheet or card to be printed is supported, with means which accurately position the stencil in identical relationship with respect to the plate.

A further object of this invention is-to' provide a unitary constructionof plate and stencil whereby the sheet to be printed is immovably held in its proper position on the plate by the weight of the stencil lying thereon.

Further objects of this invention will appear in the specification and-claims below.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which the same reference characters are employed throughout the various views to designate the same parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the essentials of a mechanism for stencil printing with my improved unitar-y combined plate and stencil manually movedin the guideway up to starting position, the for-ward endsthereof being between the platen rollers.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3'is a view similar to Fig. 2' showing the position of the parts at the completion of the cycle of operation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the gearing by means of which the platen rollers are rotated in unison.

Fig. 5 is a plan View similar to Fig. 1 of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6- is a-longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 5.

In Figs. 1 to 4 is illustrated that part of a stencil printing machine to which this invention has particular reference. Thus the platen rollers l and 2 may be and preferably are of standard design and equipment, the upper roller I being the ink roller and the lower roller 2 being preferably a metal roller. The upper inking roller is preferably provided with a yielding surfacing 3 of rubber or other suitable material. Both rollers are preferably mutilated so that when they are in their stationary position, as shown in Fig. 3, there is a clear open space between them. The rollers are of the same peripheral diameter and they are geared together to turn in unison by spur gears 4- 5, one secured to the upper roller shaft 5 and the other to the lower roller shafts 6. The framework ofthe machine is indicated by the upright 1 in which the shafts 5 and 5 are journaled, the upright 8 at the front of the machine, the parallel rails 9, I0 mounted on the uprights I and 8 and the cross-bars H and I2 tying the rails together.

The inner sides of the rails. 9 and I0 are each provided with a groove l3 forming a track throughout the length of the rails in which the metal plate M can be freely slid manually when the rollers are in the position shown in Fig. 3 or automatically by the rollers as shown in Fig. 2 wherein the platen rollers have just started to rotate and are impelling the plate and stencil rearwardly. The plate It may be provided with a handle IE to facilitate the proper positioning of the plate for the commencement of the printing operation.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 the stencil I6 is permanently connected to the rear end of the plate I by hinges I1. These hinges H are preferably spaced apart as widely as possible as will be referred to again below. The stencil per se consists of a thin metal rectangular frame l8 turned over along the front and back edges to form channels l8 and I8 into which the removable stencil card or sheet I9 is fitted. To firmly retain the removable stencil sheet l9 to the frame I8 I may employ the usual flexible resilient metal locking frame 28.

On the upper side of each rail are two upwardly extending lugs 2i and 22 between each pair of which extends a guide rod 23 and on each rod is a block 24, slidable on its rod 23 and having an inwardly projecting finger or shoulder 24 said fingers extending into the path of the movement of said plate l4. Each block is normally held squarely against its lug 2|, but yieldingly, by a coiled spring 25, one end of a spring being attached to a block 24 and the other end to a rail of the frame. These blocks 24 with their inwardly extending fingers 24 are in effect yielding stops against which the rear end of the plate 14, or the hinges ll connecting the plate with the frame, abut when the plate and stencil have been manually pushed forwardly to a position between the rollers, the rollers at that time being in the position shown in Fig. 3.

When the plate and stencil unit is so manually positioned between the rollers and against the stop fingers 24 power is applied to the rollers, and they are given one complete revolution and then their motion is stopped. It is not deemed necessary herein to illustrate the clutch mechanism for stopping the rotation of the rollers, after one complete rotation, since any one of a number of those well known throw-out clutch mechanisms could be mounted in the clutch housing 1' for the purpose, and because, in fact, the mechanism might be operated by hand by a crank mounted on either of the roller shafts 5 or 6.

But when the rollers begin to turn they draw rearwardly between them the plate and stencil which in turn push the blocks 24 rearwardly on their guide. rods 23 against the tension of the springs 25. When the platen rollers I and 2 have completed their revolution and come to rest again in the position shown in Fig. 3, the springs 25 come into operation and draw the plate I4 and stencil l6 back through the space between the rollers toward the front of the machine until the blocks 24 re-engage their respective stop lugs 2| as shown in Fig. 3.

I have shown a spring latch 26 mounted on the top of one of the rails on a vertical pivot pin 21, the latch being movable in a clockwise direction but not movable in an anticlockwise direction beyond the position shown in Fig. 1 by reason of the engagement to a lug 28 on the latch 26 with a rigid stop pin 29. The spring 39 normally holds this latch 26 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The stencil frame I8 is preferably provided with a little upwardly directed lug 3| and the latch 26 normally extends into thepath of this lug 3!. When a card 32 is placed between the plate 14 and the unit is being manually advanced to bring them into starting position, the lug 3| strikes the forward side of the said latch 26 and rotates it in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 30, and, after the lug 3! passes to the rear of the latch 26, the spring'30 snaps it back to normal position againstthe lug 28.

When, however, a printing cycle has been completed and the plate M and stencil It toether come to rest near the front of the machine, the operator may grasp the handle l5 and draw the plate further rearwardly until the lug 28 engages the rear side of the latch 26 which cannot move further in an anticlockwise direction with the result that the stencil is rotated on its hinges ii and is lifted well above the plate (see Fig. 3) in order to facilitate the removal of the now printed sheet 32 and the substitution therefor of a fresh sheet to be printed during the next printing cycle.

The upper face of the plate l4 may have a thin guide strip 33 against which the side 32 of the card or sheet 32 to be printed may abut, and the plate I4 may have a scratch or marking The card or sheet 32 is manually placed on the plate 14, against the guide 33 and in the position indicated by the markings 34, the stencil 16 being lifted on its hinges I! for the purpose. The stencil It is then turned on its hinges down flat upon the. plate and the sheet to be printed. The sheet 32 is thus clamped between the plate'and the stencil. The weight of the stencil and its frame is amply sufficient to tightly hold the sheet immovable against the plate. The operator then grasps the handle l5 slides the plate and stencil forwardly until the hinges H engage the fingers 24 and should the stencil sharply engage the stop fingers 24 and thus be suddenly brought to rest, the card or sheet 32 will not slip with respect to the stencil IE or the plate M, due to its momentum, for it is firmly clamped between the plate and the stencil. The operator then applies the power which rotates the rollers for one complete revolution and thus impel the plate and stencil through the machine to the rear thereof and during this action the inking roller presses the stencil sheet firmly against the card or sheet 32 and effects a printing thereon of the data carried by the stencil. When brought back to the front of the machine by the springs 25, the drawing of the plate a little further, manually, by the handle 15, effects an automatic lifting of the stencil frame and stencil carried thereby giving access to the upper side of the plate.

It will now be seen that in the practice of my invention, that it is not necessary to provide the rails 9 and iii each with two guideways one for the plate and one for the stencil as has heretofore been done. The single guideway for the plate suffices for the operation. Moreover, the stencil when thus permanently hinged to the frame when fiat will always be in registry with the identical part of the plate. The stencil cannot change its position with respect to the plate so far as registration is concerned.

Moreover, the plate [4 bearing the sheet or card 32 and the stencil l6 hinged thereto form a unitary construction. They move as a unit with respect to the rails whether impelled manually by the handle or automatically by the rollers. There is no slip or relative movement of the therewith to impart stencil with respect to the plate or of the sheet to-elther.

In the'modiflcations shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the lower platen roller 2, the uprights 'l and 8, the rails 9' and ID with the cross bars Ill and I2, the latter being provided with grooves or slide ways l3= are of the construction above described in connectionwith- Figs. 1- to 3.

But the upper inking platen-roller I is hollow to provide a chamber 35 constituting an ink reservoir: The wall' of the upper roller is provided with perforations 36 through which the ink may be distributed to a yielding ink absorptive pad 3 over which is smoothly fitted the removable stencil sheet i9 secured thereto by clips or clamps 3T.

The roller i?- may be replenished with ink from time to time through the opening through the wall thereof closedby the plug 38.

The plate I 4* is substantiallylike that shown in the previously described construction except that the removable stencil sheet l9 is not connected thereto by hinges. Instead, the upper roller shaft 5-is provided with a pair of mutilated gears 39, one at each end of the roller I and adapted to intermittently mesh with racks 40 rigidly secured to the plate I l adjacent opposite side edges thereof.

The rollers I and 2- are preferably geared together to rotate in unison by means of gearing 4-4 like that shown in Fig. 4. i

When the machine is not'operating the flat faces of the two rollers I and 2 are parallel providing a space between the rollers for the insertion of the rear end of the plate l4 in order that it may be advanced into engagement with the fingers 24' of the blocks 24- by means of which the" plate M is correctly positioned for starting. Upon the application of power to the platen rollers the first tooth of each of the gears 38 willmesh between the same teeth of the rack 40 every time the printing cycle isstarted and by this gearing the stencil is thus accurately and invariably connected'to the plate I l and moves the impression of the stencil to the card 32 lying on the plate M When the platen rollers have made one complete revolution they are stopped with the flat surfaces of the rollers I and 2 parallel, whereupon the plate M is returned to its starting position by the springs 25 drawing the blocks 24 on their guide rods 23 rearwardlyagainst the stop lugs on the rails 9 and ID. The printed sheet may now be lifted from the plate I4 and a new sheet accurately placed thereon. It is often desirable to print parts only of the matter cut into the stencil as in making up index cards from different parts of thev matter cut into the stencil.

Some of the index cards to be thus made. may contain printed matter and the data on the stencil may be for insertion in blank spaces providedtherefor on the printed cards.

In- Fig. 1 I. have indicated the complete data out into the stencil by the three columns 4|, 42 and 43 of dotted lines.

For example, if a part only of column 3!, a lesser part of column 42 and none of column 43 are to appear on the index cards 32 to be printed therefrom, then preferably a sheet of blotting paper may be accurately cut to the shape 44 indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1 and placed upon the card 32 before the stencil is lowered to lie thereover.

When now the unitary construction comprising the plate M, the stencil I 6, the card 32 and the blotter are now run between the platen rollers l-2, only that part of the data on the stencil which has not been masked out by the blotter, will appear on the card 32.

It will also be plain that a portion of the data onz-the' stencil might be for transference to a printed sheet. which is longer than the plate M. It is for this reason that I locate the hinges I? close to the side edges of the plate so that the sheet might project tween the hinges.

My device is also well adapted for making.

cards or coupons for piecework. The main stencil may contain all the prices to be paid for each operation and the other data may appear as printed matter on the cards, the prices on the stencil being for insertion on the cards opposite the appropriate printednotation for the particular operation. These'piecework cards may be perforated for separation and for distribution tothe workmen, each of Whom, at the close of the. day, turns'in as many of the coupons as corresponds to the number operation during the day. It will be appreciated that since the price of these various operations may vary greatly, it is exceedingly important that the matter transferred to the cards from the stencil appears printed card.

This kind of work is relatively easy when my herein described invention is employed, because the registration of the stencil with the identic substantially perfect and part of the plate is because once the stencil has been lowered to lie fiat on the cardthe likelihood of any slippage of the card on the plate I 4 is substantially eliminated. Once the card has been properly positioned on the plate and clamped between the plate and the stencil, the registration of the matt'er to be transferred from the stencil to the proper position on the card is insured.

In the drawings, the platen rollers are sub-- stan-tiall-y alike; they are of the same diameter and both have flattened sides which are parallel when the rollers are plate and stencil. At least one of these rollers should" be a flattened sector and preferably the upper inking roller I in order that the stencil may be inserted between the rollers without contact ing with the inky surface It is not so important that the lower roller be a sector although by making it flattened or mutilated-ample space is provided for the ready insertion of. the stencil and plate between the rollers prior to the printing operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to the United States is: I

1. In a stencil printing machine, a sheet supporting plate, a frame providing a guideway for the opposite side edges of said plate, a pair ofcoactingrotatable rollers mounted in said frame, each of said rollers having a platen sector and having a portion removed to provide a free space between said rollers in the stationary position thereof, said plate being manually movable in said guideways into said space when said rollers are stationary, a yielding stop to accurately position the forward edge of said plate with respect to said rollers, a stencil movable with said plate with the sheet to be printed between said stencil and said plate, the platen sectors of said rollers reof the upper roller.

of times he has performed that 14 in is correct position on the stopped to provide a clear' space between the rollers for the insertion of the protect by Letters Patent of rearwardly beyond and be- 7 spectively engaging said stencil and said plate to advance the same to effect the printing operation, and means to connect said stencil to said plate and to unvariably position said stencil with respect to said plate to maintain absolute registration oi said stencil with said plate during the printing operation.

2. In a stencil printing machine, a sheet supporting plate, a frame providing a guideway for said plate, a pair of simultaneously operable coacting rollers having platen sectors and substantially parallel portions providing a free space between said rollers when said rollers are sta tionary, means to accurately position the forward edge of said plate with respect to said rollers, and a stencil hinged to said plate and movable therewith between said rollers, the platen sectors of said rollers respectively engaging said stencil and said plate to advance the same to effect the printing operation.

3. In a stencil printing machine, a sheet supporting plate, a frame providing a guideway for said plate, a pair of simultaneously operable coacting rollers having platen sectors and substantially parallel portions providing a free space between said rollers when said rollers are stationary, means to accurately position the forward edge of said plate with respect to said rollers, a, stencil hinged to said plate for movement with the plate, the platen sectors of said rollers respectively engaging said stencil and said plate to advance the same to effect the printing operation,

and means to automatically lift said stencil from said plate on its hinge, after the printing operation has been completed.

4. In a stencil printing machine, a sheet supporting plate, guides along which said plate is slidable, a pair of platen sectors geared together for rotation simultaneously in opposite directions, said plate being insertable in the space between said sectors when said sectors are stationary, a stencil, means for connecting said stencil to said plate and for positioning said stencil in unvarying registration with said plate for every printing operation, yielding means for positioning said plate with respect to said sectors, said sectors respectively engaging said stencil and said plate and being movable through one complete revolution to feed said plate and stencil through said rollers and to press said stencil firmly against a sheet between said stencil and said plate, said yielding means being operative to draw said plate andstencil back to the front of the machine after said printing operation.

5. In a stencil printing machine, a sheet supporting plate, apair of platen sectors geared together for rotation simultaneously in opposite directions, said plate being insertable in the space between said sectors when said sectors are stationary, a stencil, means for connecting said stencil to said plate and for positioning said stencil in unvarying registration with said plate for every printing operation, yielding means'ior positioning said plate with respect to said sectors,

said sectors respectively engaging said stencil and said plate and being movable through one' complete revolution to feed said plate and stencil through said rollers and to press said stencil firmly against a sheet between said stencil and said plate, said yielding means being operative to draw said plate and stencil back to the front of the machine after said printing operation, and means for automatically raising said stencil from said plate when said plate has been returned by said yielding means.

6. In a stencil printing machine, a sheet sup-- porting plate mounted for sliding movement, a pair of rollers, one of which has a sector, each roller being normally the other roller to provide a space therebetween for the insertion-of said plate, yielding means for positioning said plate with respect to said rollers, a stencil secured to said plate in unvariable registration with said plate, said rollers respectively engaging said stencil and said plate and being movable through at least one complete rotation for advancing said plate and stencil between said rollers to the rear side of said machine, said yielding means being operative to return said plate to the front of said machine when said rollers have completed said rotation.

"I. In a stencil printing machine, a flat sheet supporting plate, a pair of rollers, one of which is a platen sector normally stationary with the gensecuring said stencil to said plate and for bringing said stencil into identical registration with respect to said plate, the sheet to be printed being held stationary on said plate by said stencil, said rollers respectively engaging. said stencil and said plate and being movable through one complete rotation for advancing said stencil and said plate to effect the printing operation, and yielding means for returning said plate and stencil to the front of said machine immediately the rotation of said rollers is completed.

8. In a stencil printing machine having a pair of rotatable platen sectors with cut away portions to provide in an initial stationary position thereof a free space therebetween, a stencil, a sheet supporting plate slidably mounted for passage between said sectors, and means for mounting said stencil in superposed position with respect to said plate forsimultaneous movement with said plate between said platen sectors.

9. In a stencil printing machine, a pair of rollstationary with the gener-- ally flattened surface of the sector adjacent to 

